Philips
DVDR824P DVD+RW -
Page 3

Error Correction Tests

In the following tests we check the drive's behavior when it comes to reading
scratched / defected audio discs. The test discs we use are the ABEX series
from ALMEDIO.

- ABEX TCD-721R

Errors total

Num: 115802595

Errors (Loudness) dB(A)

Num: 546383

Avg: -25.2 dB(A)

Max: -4.9 dB(A)

Error Muting Samples

Num: 22790

Avg: 3120.0 Samples

Max: 3584 Samples

Skips Samples

Num: 2

Avg: 698.0 Samples

Max:
698 Samples

Total Test Result

51.0 points (out of 100.0 maximum)

The drive did not manage to correct the severe errors of the ABEX TCD-721R
test disc. Both, the amount and the level of the reported errors are high, resulting
to a low quality score. On the other hand, the drive starts reporting errors
in the expected position and not earlier, meaning that the optics and error
correction circuits are tuned adequately. According to EAC author, such level might lead to audible problems in the output signal.

The amount of the muted samples is also very high. This means that the drive
will generally play your old audio discs pretty well, unless their physical
condition is not as bad as this of the Abex 721R disc. These are first indications
about the overall performance of the drive and the following additional tests
will help us come up with safer conclusions.

- ABEX TCD-726

Errors total

Num: 0

Errors (Loudness) dB(A)

Num:4

Avg:-94.0 dB(A)

Max: -87.6 dB(A)

Error Muting Samples

Num: 0

Avg: 0.0 Samples

Max: 0 Samples

Skips Samples

Num: 1

Avg: 185.0 Samples

Max: 185 Samples

Total Test Result

83.6 points (out of 100.0 maximum)

Abex TCD-726 is much easier for the drive to read. For this reason, Philips
DVDR824P corrected almost all errors and the overall quality score is very
high (83.6 points).

- CD-Check Audio Test Disc

The CD-Check Test Disc is a very useful tool for evaluating the Sound Reproduction
/ Error correction capabilities of a CD player. The disc offers a signal combination
with disc error patterns to rate the drive's abilities to read music and reproduce
it completely. Five tracks on the disc contain a sequence of progressively
difficult tests. These tracks are referred as Check Level-1 through Check Level-5.

The
files are reproduced (played) through a software multimedia player (i.e.
Windows Media Player). Each level is considered as passed, if the tone coming
out
from the speakers is smooth, continuous without interruptions, skipping or
looping. The higher the Check Level passed, the more reliable the sound reproduction
of the tested device.

Error Level

1

2

3

4

5

Philips DVDR824P

5/5

5/5

5/5

5/5

5/5

The drive passed all 5 Check Levels of the
test. The performance reveals very good sound
reproduction
and
error
correction.
The
fifth level
includes an error size of 1.500mm, and the drive managed to play the file
without audible clicks.

The results with the Abex TCD-721R (max scratch
size 3,00mm) and CD-Check test show that Philips DVDR824P is tuned
to correct errors coming from scratches
sized up to 1,500mm approximately.

- Summary

Test Disc

Reading Speed

Score

ABEX TCD-721R

Max

51.0

ABEX TCD-726

83.6

Average Score

67.3

Combining the two scores from the ABEX tests we estimate an average total
score of 67.3 points out of 100. This is not the highest score
we have ever experienced from a drive, but it does not fully give the image
of the drive's performance. Philips DVDR824P managed to read severely scratched
discs with a high accuracy, as long as the scratches did not exceed a critical
size.